* Reader, Deptt. of Rasa Shastra and B.K., G.B.

Ayurvedic
College, Brahman Was, Rohtak ( Haryana).
** Former Head, Deptt. of Rasa Shastra andB.K., IMS, BHU.
A Study on Guggulu with special reference to Analgesic
Effect
ANJANA DWIVEDI * S. K. DIXIT **
Institute of Medical Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi ( U.P.).
ABSTRACT : Ayurvedic drugs containing Guggulu are predominantly used in Vataja disorders, where pain is the
foremost symptom. Hence it was thought that Guggulu might be having analgesic effect. This research paper deals
with various experiments on 20 albino rats to ascertain analgesic effect of Guggulu.
Key words : Ayurvedic drug, Ashuddha Guggulu, Shuddha Guggulu, Vataharana, Vedanaharana, Analgesic activity.
INTRODUCTION
Guggulu
1
preparations are mainly used in Vata
Vyadhies like Amavata
2
, Vata Rakta etc. where pain is
the dominating symptom. In Ayurveda, Vata dosha is
considered responsible for producing pain. There are two
ways through which vitiation of Vata Dosha occurs, one
by the Dhatukshaya and another by Awarana
(obstruction in Srotasa, passage or channel). The
Guggulu is used mostly in Vata Vyadhi. The reason
behind it lies on the part of the chemical constituents of
Guggulu and its Rasa
4
, Guna
5
, Virya and Vipaka which
play an important role for overcoming the ailments.
Guggulu removes the factor of Dhatukshaya by its
Madhura, Katu, Tikta, Kashaya Rasa and Picchila,
Snigdha Gunas. It is also effective by removing the
obstruction in Srotasa due to its Lekhana property (of
old Guggulu) in case of the disorder caused by
Margawarana. Therefore considering this fact, some
experiments were carried out on albino rats to evaluate
the analgesic effect of Guggulu, for this purpose certain
drugs were selected, which were supposed to have
analgesic action, for administration in albino rats. Thus
distilled water, Shodhita Guggulu, Nirgundi Shodhita
Guggulu, combinations of Guggulu with Kupilu,
Vatsanabha and Bhallataka were used in therapeutic
doses, whereas Disprin
6
was taken as a control drug.
Nirgundi Shodhita Guggulu was taken due to the fact
that Nirgundi being a Vatahara and Vedana Shamaka
drug would exhibit analgesic effect. Other drugs of
combination like Kupilu, Vatsanabha and Bhallataka
are also having Vatahara effect and Vata is considered
responsible to produce pain, hence the drugs which are
capable to alleviate Vata dosha were taken into
consideration for analgesic effect. Since Guggulu is also
Vata-Kaphahara drug, so its combination with other
Vatahara drugs was made just to enhance or potentiate
its Vatahara effect ultimately causing analgesic effect.
In this experiment the albino rats were tested for analgesic
effect throughAnalgesiometer
7
by tail flickering test after
administering orally the drugs.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
(A) Test drugs groups and their doses :
(i) Distilled water Shodhita Guggulu:
25 mg/100 gmbody weight of rat
(ii) Nirgundi Shodhita Guggulu:
25 mg/100 gmbody weight of rat
(iii) Shuddha Guggulu + Shuddha Kupilu:
25+2 mg/100 gmbody weight of rat
(iv) Shuddha Guggulu + Shuddha Bhallataka:
25+2 mg/100 gmbody weight of rat
(v) Shuddha Guggulu + Shuddha Vatsanabha:
25+2 mg/100 gmbody weight of rat
(vi) Disprin
25 mg/100 gmbody weight of rat
(B) Equipments required : Rat cages,
Analgesiometers, syringe (5 ml), rubber tube,
beaker, mortar and pestle etc.
(C) Experimental animals : Ten albino rats of each
sex i.e. male (10) and female (10), having
approximate body weight between 100-150 gm.
All rats were divided into four groups; each
consisted of five rats already well marked, to
differentiate from each other. They were acclimatized
for seven days then observed for analgesic effect of
each drug one by one separately after administering the
drug orally with the help of a syringe and rubber tube in
appropriate dose. For this purpose at first all the albino
rats were tested individually for their initial threshold of
AYU-VOL. 30, NO. 1 (JAN.-MAR.) 2009, pp 5-10 5
pain tolerance through an analgesiometer by keeping tail
of the rat on its wire mode for this specific purpose and
well regulated electric current was allowed to pass
through this wire, so that its temperature starts to
increase. In addition there is also such an arrangement in
the analgesiometer through continuous water supply
around the area of wire which controls the temperature.
Now at the point, when the rat flicks its tail, current is
stopped and this much time duration, taken by the rat to
flick its tail, is recorded by a stop-watch. This duration
comes in few seconds. In this way initial time period is
noted down for each and every rat individually then after
the solution water Shodhita Guggulu in appropriate dose
was administered to the albino rats. One hour after the
administration of drug, the rats were tested for their pain
tolerance time through the same test i.e. tail flickering
test and the reading was noted down. Likewise after
another more one hour, reading was again taken to find
out the difference that whether the pain tolerating time
remains the same, increases or decreases. If the latent
period is increased then it is presumed that the drug is
having analgesic effect.
In the same manner readings for other drugs are
also taken to determine their analgesic effect.
OBSERVATIONS & RESULT
The detail observations of analgesic activity of
various groups of test drugs along with control group are
given in Table No. 1 - 6 as follows.
TABLENO. 1: ANALGESICEFFECTOFDISTILLEDWATERSHODHITAGUGGULU :
Sr. AlbinoRat Time (in seconds)
No. Initial After 1 hr. After 2 hrs.
1. Male 2.2 2.0 2.2
2. Male 2.4 2.4 2.1
3. Male 2.3 2.3 2.1
4. Male 2.2 2.2 2.0
5. Male 2.1 2.2 2.0
6. Male 2.0 2.0 2.2
7. Male 2.4 2.2 2.3
8. Male 2.3 2.0 2.1
9. Male 2.1 2.1 2.1
10. Male 2.0 2.2 2.0
11. Female 2.2 2.1 2.2
12. Female 2.4 2.3 2.3
13. Female 2.2 2.2 2.1
14. Female 2.2 2.0 2.2
15. Female 2.5 2.3 2.1
16. Female 2.1 2.0 2.2
17. Female 2.1 2.0 2.1
18. Female 2.2 2.1 2.1
19. Female 2.3 2.2 2.4
20. Female 2.0 2.0 2.0
TABLENO. 2 :ANALGESICEFFECTOFNIRGUNDI SHODHITAGUGGULU :
Sr. AlbinoRat Time (in seconds)
No. Initial After 1 hr. After 2 hrs.
1. Male 4.2 4.0 4.2
2. Male 4.2 4.2 4.2
3. Male 4.1 4.0 4.1
4. Male 4.2 4.2 4.2
5. Male 4.1 4.2 4.0
6. Male 4.0 4.0 4.2
7. Male 4.4 4.2 4.3
8. Male 4.3 4.0 4.1
9. Male 4.1 4.1 4.1
10. Male 4.0 4.2 4.2
11. Female 4.2 4.1 4.2
AYU-VOL. 30, NO. 1 (JAN.-MAR.) 2009 6
12. Female 4.4 4.3 4.3
13. Female 4.2 4.2 4.1
14. Female 4.2 4.0 4.0
15. Female 4.5 4.2 4.3
16. Female 4.1 4.0 4.2
17. Female 4.1 4.0 4.1
18. Female 4.2 4.1 4.1
19. Female 4.3 4.0 4.1
20. Female 4.0 4.1 4.1
TABLENO. 3 : ANALGESICEFFECTOFS. GUGGULUANDS. KUPILU :
Sr. AlbinoRat Time (in seconds)
No. Initial After 1 hr. After 2 hrs.
1. Male 3.3 3.1 3.0
2. Male 3.3 3.2 3.0
3. Male 3.2 3.1 3.1
4. Male 3.1 3.0 3.1
5. Male 3.1 3.0 3.2
6. Male 3.5 3.3 3.2
7. Male 3.2 3.0 3.0
8. Male 3.2 3.2 3.1
9. Male 3.4 3.3 3.3
10. Male 3.2 3.1 3.1
11. Female 3.2 3.1 3.2
12. Female 3.0 3.2 3.0
13. Female 3.1 3.1 3.0
14. Female 3.3 3.0 3.1
15. Female 3.4 3.2 3.3
16. Female 3.1 3.2 3.0
17. Female 3.0 3.0 3.1
18. Female 3.4 3.2 3.0
19. Female 3.3 3.3 3.1
20. Female 3.5 3.0 3.2
TABLENO. 4: ANALGESICEFFECTOFS. GUGGULU AND S. BHALLATAKA :
Sr. AlbinoRat Time (in seconds)
No. Initial After 1 hr. After 2 hrs.
1. Male 2.0 2.1 2.0
2. Male 2.3 2.0 2.2
3. Male 2.1 2.0 2.1
4. Male 2.2 2.1 2.1
5. Male 2.5 2.3 2.1
6. Male 2.2 2.0 2.0
7. Male 2.2 2.2 2.1
8. Male 2.2 2.1 2.2
9. Male 2.2 2.3 2.0
10. Male 2.4 2.1 2.0
11. Female 2.2 2.1 2.2
12. Female 2.0 2.1 2.2
13. Female 2.3 2.0 2.1
14. Female 2.0 2.0 2.1
15. Female 2.1 2.0 2.2
16. Female 2.2 2.2 2.0
17. Female 2.3 2.3 2.1
18. Female 2.4 2.2 2.4
19. Female 2.2 2.0 2.1
20. Female 2.1 2.3 2.1
A Study on Guggulu's Analgesic Effect : Dwivedi & Dixit 7
TABLENO. 5: ANALGESICEFFECTOFS. GUGGULUANDS. VATSANABHA :
Sr. AlbinoRat Time (in seconds)
No. Initial After 1 hr. After 2 hrs.
1. Male 4.2 4.0 4.2
2. Male 4.3 4.2 4.0
3. Male 4.1 4.0 4.1
4. Male 4.2 4.0 4.1
5. Male 4.5 4.4 4.2
6. Male 4.4 4.2 4.4
7. Male 4.2 4.2 4.0
8. Male 4.3 4.0 4.1
9. Male 4.1 4.1 4.0
10. Male 4.0 4.2 4.2
11. Female 4.3 4.3 4.1
12. Female 4.2 4.2 4.0
13. Female 4.5 4.0 4.1
14. Female 4.2 4.0 4.0
15. Female 4.0 4.0 4.2
16. Female 4.3 4.3 4.1
17. Female 4.4 4.2 4.4
18. Female 4.0 4.1 4.0
19. Female 4.5 4.2 4.4
20. Female 4.0 4.1 4.0
TABLENO. 6: ANALGESICEFFECTOFDISPRIN :
Sr. AlbinoRat Time (in seconds)
No. Initial After 1 hr. After 2 hrs.
1. Male 3.2 3.6 3.8
2. Male 3.4 5.6 5.9
3. Male 4.8 6.2 4.5
4. Male 4.8 6.2 6.4
5. Male 4.1 5.0 5.2
6. Male 4.0 5.0 6.0
7. Male 4.4 6.2 6.4
8. Male 5.3 5.8 6.2
9. Male 4.2 5.2 5.4
10. Male 4.6 5.0 5.1
11. Female 8.0 8.2 9.2
12. Female 6.2 6.8 7.0
13. Female 4.2 5.0 6.4
14. Female 5.4 5.9 6.6
15. Female 5.5 6.9 7.0
16. Female 4.1 5.2 6.0
17. Female 6.1 4.0 4.8
18. Female 2.4 4.0 5.8
19. Female 2.9 3.2 4.1
20. Female 4.0 4.8 5.2
TABLENo. 7 : EFFCTOFTESTDRUGSONTAILFLICKRESPONCEINRATS:
Tail flick response at various time intervals (Sec.)
Groups After 1 hour Paired 't' After 2 hours Paired 't'
Water control - 0.050 0.03 1.670 - 0.070 0.03 2.333
Nirgundi Shodhita Guggulu - 0.085 0.03 2.833 - 0.045 0.028 1.607
Shodhita Guggulu + - 0.115 0.03 3.709 - 0.13 0.28 4.642
Shodhita Kupilu
Shodhita Guggulu + - 0.140 0.05 2.592 - 0.080 0.036 20.222
Shodhita Bhallataka
Shodhita Guggulu + - 0.090 0.03 3.00 - 0.115 0.033 3.484
Shodhita Vatsanabha
Reference Standard - Disprin 0.094 0.12 0.766 1.52 0.15*** 10.13
Data: Mean SEM *** p<0.001 (Paired & Unpaired)
AYU-VOL. 30, NO. 1 (JAN.-MAR.) 2009 8
DISCUSSION
In ayurvedic systemof medicine 'Guggulu' have
special importance especially for the nervine rheumatic
diseases. These preparations constitute Guggulu, a gum
resin obtained fromthe plant of Balsamodendron mukul,
as an active constituent. They are of five varieties out of
which yellow Guggulu or Kanak Guggulu is commonly
used for the preparations meant for human consumption,
both new as well as old Guggulu are used in the
manufacturingof medicines for different type of rheumatic
troubles. Recent investigations have revealed that
Guggulu play an important role in the cure of obesity and
leprosy also. The list of traditional uses for Guggulu is
extensive. It has been indicated for healing bone fracture
to inflammation, arthritis, cardiovascular conditions,
obesity, and lipid disorders. Several other external and
internal uses for Guggulu have been described in folklore
and ethno-medicine as well. Although, several therapeutic
uses were indicated for Guggulu, the Indian gum resin
was mainlyused for treatingarthritis andrelatedconditions
for centuries. Research regarding usage of Guggulu as a
hypolipidemic agent did not begin until 1964. It is said
that Satyavati and Dwarakanath were inspired to
investigate Guggulus lipid-lowering properties based on
the strong analogy between the ancient concept of
Medoroga in the Sushruta Samhita (600 B.C.) and the
modern concept of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
and its fatal complications. Preclinical and clinical studies
were conducted over a period of two years to investigate
Guggulus lipid-loweringproperties. The followingresults
were reported: (1) In cholesterol-induced hyperlipidemic
rabbits, an aqueous extract of crude gum Guggulu
significantlyloweredthe serumcholesterol, phospholipids
as well as protected against atherosclerosis (at the fatty
streak stage); (2) The gumresin reduced the body-weight
of animals; (3) Significant reductions in serumcholesterol
levels were observed in obese and hypercholesterolemic
patients using crude gumGuggulu.
Guggulu, extracted in Ethylacetate contains
mainly following two separate parts; the insoluble part is
carbohydrate gum which is discarded for medicinal use
because of its toxic properties. The second soluble portion
is resin part that has proven medicinal values. Resinous
part has three kinds of substances - acidic, basic and
neutral as follows -
Acidic 4%- this part has anti-inflammatory property.
Basic 0.3% - this part doesnt have any medicinal
value.
Neutral 95%- Neutral fraction is further subdivided
into two parts. First the Ketonic fraction is a complex
mixture of steroids like Z-Guggulusteron and E-
Guggulusteron. The second one is Non-Ketonic part.
Both parts are hypolipidemic i.e. with lipid lowering
activity.
The need for Guggulu Shodhana :
There are two objectives to purify a natural
herb. First is to remove the external and internal
impurities. The second reason is to increase the
medicinal value. External impurities are in the formof
dust, dry leaves and other foreign materials present
in Guggulu. After purification, the herb becomes
safer and more effective for use. Sometimes
additional medicinal values are also instilled in the
formulation.
Guggulu extract is produced after two types of
purification.
General Purification
Specific Purification.
General Purification of Guggulu :
General purification is carried out by keeping the
Guggulu in hot water overnight. The quantity of water is
four times the weight of Guggulu. Next morning, it is
heated very lightly. When the quantity of water remains
half, the mixture is filtered with a cotton cloth or a mesh.
Usually iron pan is used to purify Guggulu and the
environment should be dry and sunny. For industrial
purpose, it is dried in dryer and there is possibility of loss
of volatile elements. Steam jacketed drying pans are
standard for commercial purpose. Though it takes longer
to dry Guggulu but the temperature is controlled around
50-60 degree centigrade.
Specific Purification :
Specific Purification of Guggulu increases the
medicinal properties and helps in modifying the
pharmacological actions. The same Guggulu is processed
with different herbs (http://www.holistic-herbalist.com/
guggulipid.html) and it is made active biologically in a
differential way. Some of the verses mentioned in classics
are summarized here -
Specificity of action: Guggulu is boiled with
decoctions of herbs for a particular disease and then
filtered. This renders specificity of action in C.
mukul. (Bharat Bhaishajya Ratnakara, Vol. 2-1320).
Increasing Vitiated mucus-digestive and mobile
property : Cow's urine or decoction of Triphala or
triple myrobalans is used (Ras Chandanshu).
9 A Study on Guggulu's Analgesic Effect : Dwivedi & Dixit
Increasing Rejuvenative Property : Decoctions
of Guduchi, Triphala and Cow's milk is respectively
used one by one. (Rasendra Sara Sangraha, 1331).
Increasing Vitiated Mucus-digestive property:
Cow's urine is used. (Rasendra Bhasakara).
Increasing Anti-Vata property: Dashamula
decoction is used. (Bharat Bhaishajya Ratnakara, 2/
1332)
Increasing the body tonic property: Cows milk
is used. (Rasatarangini, 24/579)
Here in the present study pharmacological
attributes of Ashuddha & Shuddha Guggulu was
evaluated alongwith various herbal drugs for its analgesic
effect the comparative table showing effect of test drugs
on tail flick response in rats are summarized in table 7.
CONCLUSION
From the observations it was found that the
readings (Initial and after administering the drug)
remained almost the same (except table no. 6).There
was no change in the time taken in flickering of the tail,
neither at its initial state nor after the drug administration,
which suggests that none of the drug (except Disprin) is
having analgesic effect.
Only reference standard treated group shows
significant analgesic activity when data were subjected
to both paired & unpaired t test. Surprisingly all other
groups shownegative analgesic activity.
REFERENCES
1. The wealth of India - Vol - 2. P.313.
2. Indian Woods, l, 139l; Krishna & Badhwar, J.Sci. Industr. Res.,
1947, 6 (4) Suppl. 60; Dutt, Indian oil & soap J., 1960-61,
26, 123.
3. Ashtanga Hrdaya Samhita, Chi.; 21/50.
4. Ashtanga Samgraha Samhita,Ut.; 49/164-175.
5. Bhava Prakash Nighantu, Karpuradi Varga/32-45.
6. Sushruta Samhita, Chi. 5/40.
7. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Chapter 31, P. 414.
8. Selected topics in Experimental Pharmacology Chapter 5, P. 135.
9. Anjana Dwivedi et al. Ph.D. Thesis (1998), Study on Guggulu,
Dept. of Rasa Shastra, Faculty of Ayurveda, I.M.S., Banaras
Hindu University, Varanasi.
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AYU-VOL. 30, NO. 1 (JAN.-MAR.) 2009 10